Jaw face linings for a pivoted jaw wrench



Aug. 2, 1955 R. TAMPLlN 2,714,321

JAW FACE LININGS FOR A PIVOTED JAW WRENCH Filed June 4, 1954 INVENTOR ROY TAMPLIN \ZQZ'KATTORNEY United States Patent 2,714,321 JAW FACE LININGS FOR A PIVOTED JAW WRENCH Roy Tamplin, Tipp City, Ohio Application June 4, 1954, Serial No. 434,513 3 Claims. (Cl. 8152) The present invention relates to a pipe wrench and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a pipe wrench particularly adapted for use with plated pipes wherein it is desirable to grip the outer surfaces of such pipes without marring the plated surface thereof. The device consists of a pair of jaws each having integrally formed at its inner end a semi-circular jaw which jaws are pivoted together with a hinge at their outer ends and which are complementary in nature. Each of the jaws is provided with a recess in the inner face thereof in which, in each case, there is affixed a spring. Interchangeable inserts, preferably formed of fiberboard or the like are removably mounted in the springs and are likewise complementary in nature. The device is such that a given pair of inserts may be selected for a given pipe size and quickly and easily inserted and latched within the springs contained in the jaws whereupon the pipe may be gripped by such inserts as pressure is applied to the handles much in the manner of a pair of pliers.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel interchangeable inserts forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a combined spring and latch member forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating certain details of construction.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the wrench in opened condition and with certain inserts forming parts of the invention removed therefrom,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a pair of inserts forming a part of the invention, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken along line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a pipe wrench of the character set forth comprising a pair of elongated handles 10 each having integrally formed at its inner end a substantially semicircular jaw 11 which jaws are interconnected at their outer ends by means of a hinge 12.

The inner face of each of the jaws 11 is provided with a recess 13. In each of the recesses 13 there is aflixed by means of a screw 14 adjacent the hinge 12 an arcuate spring 15.

Each of the springs 15 is of slightly less width than the recess 13 in which it is located and each is provided with an inner abutment 16 and an outer abutment 17, the latter each being provided with an integrally formed fingerpiece 18.

A pair of inserts is shown in perspective view in Figure 6 and each is provided with an arcuate body 20 having 2,714,321 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 substantially the same width as the jaw 11 and each is provided upon its outer side with a longitudinally extending ridge 21 which terminates at each of its ends inwardly adjacent the respective end of the body 20. A pipe is shown at 22.

In operation, it will be apparent that a pair of the inserts shown, for example, in Figure 6 may each be mounted in one of the springs 15 by inserting its ridge portion 21 into the recess 13 until one end of the ridge 21 abuts against the abutment 16 whereupon by forcing the insert further into the recess 13 the other end of the ridge 21 will latch with the abutment 17. Thus a pair of complementary inserts which are preferably formed of fiberboard or the like may be engaged in the jaws 11. Thereafter the pipe 22 may be gripped by opening the jaws 11 so that the same may be placed around the pipe 22 and thereafter bringing the handles 10 together with suificient force to grip the pipe 22. It will be apparent that when such gripping action takes place it will be against the action of the springs 15 and it will also be apparent that the fiberboard, through its very nature, will not scratch or mar the smooth outer surface of the pipe 22. When it is desired to again use the wrench on a pipe of greater or lesser diameter than the pipe 22, it is only necessary to remove the pair of inserts just used and to select another more fitting pair for use with the new piece of pipe. To remove an insert from its latching engagement with the lugs 16 and 17, it is only necessary for the operator to press the finger piece 18 of the particular spring inwardly with respect to the recess 13 thus widening the distance between the lugs 16 and 17 and thus permitting the free and easy removal of the insert therefrom.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of handles, a semi-circular jaw formed integrally with the inner end of each handle, a hinge interconnecting the free ends of said jaws, each of said jaws having a recess in the inner face thereof, an arcuate spring mounted in each recess, a pair of semi-circular pipe-gripping members, and means carried by each of said springs for removably mounting one of said gripping members thereon, said means including an abutment formed at each end of each of said springs.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said gripping members are each formed with an arcuate body having a width substantially identical with the width of said jaws, and wherein each of said bodies is provided upon its rearward side with a longitudinally extending ridge extending to points adjacent each end of said body, and wherein said abutments are adapted to yieldably grip opposite ends of said ridges.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the outermost abutments has integrally formed therewith a fingerpiece and wherein said gripping members are formed of fiberboard material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,655 Tubbs Oct. 29, 1901 699,803 Monehan et a1 May 13, 1902 977,896 Nicholson Dec. 6, 1910 1,788,507 Burgin Jan. 13, 1931 2,055,854 Stibbe Sept. 29, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 117,961 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1918 

